Checking Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and Disability Services
Table 1: Categories of eligibility for any publicly funded health or disability service.
Category
New Zealand Citizen
(including people
from the Cook
Islands, Niue or
Tokelau)
Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and
Disability Services
NZ citizens are eligible for the full range of
publicly funded health and disability
services.
New Zealand
Residence Class Visa
Holders
People who hold residence class visas are
eligible for the full range of publicly
funded health and disability services.
NB: Australian citizens and Australian
permanent residents are automatically
issued resident visas on arrival in NZ, but
their eligibility is dealt with in two sections
below (ie. Full or limited eligibility)
Australian citizen or
permanent resident
staying in NZ for
two years or more.
Citizens of the Commonwealth of
Australia and people holding a current
permanent residence visa (includes a
resident return visa) issued by the
Government of Australia are eligible for
the full range of publicly funded health
and disability services IF
they are able to demonstrate
they have or intend to spend at least two
consecutive years in New Zealand.
Work visa holders in
New Zealand for
two years or more
A work visa holder whose visa or visas
allow them to stay in New Zealand for at
least two consecutive years is eligible for
the full range of publicly funded health
and disability services.
Interim visa holder
An interim visa holder who was eligible
immediately before their interim visa
started is eligible for publicly funded
health and disability services.
Proof of Eligibility
NZ passport OR
NZ certificate of identity OR
NZ birth certificate OR
Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau birth
certificate OR
NZ certificate of citizenship OR
Certified copy of a descent
registration certificate OR
social security benefit papers (except
emergency benefit) AND
two forms of supporting identity
information, one with a photo
(unless passport is provided).
Passport with resident visa OR
Passport with permanent resident
visa OR
Social security benefit papers (except
emergency benefit) AND two forms
of supporting identity information,
one with a photo (unless main proof
is passport).
If they became residents before
December 2010, they will hold a
residence permit. This is now called a
residence class visa.
Australian passport, or
other passport with Australian
permanent resident/resident return
visa AND
Evidence that New Zealand has
been/will be their principal place of
residence for at least two years (e.g.
employment, house purchase). The
two years is counted from their
arrival date in New Zealand.
A current work visa that allows for a
total continuous stay of at least 2
years OR
A current work visa and other
visa/permit held immediately prior
that allows a consecutive 24 month
stay.
NB: if their visa was issued before
December 2010, it will be called a
work permit.
Interim visa letter plus evidence of
eligibility before the interim visa (eg.
a letter from Immigration NZ with
information on visas held prior to the
interim visa, including time spent
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Category
Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and
Disability Services
Proof of Eligibility
outside NZ).
NB: An assessment of former
eligibility will need to be made.
Refugees, protected
persons and victims
of people
trafficking.
Students
A person who:
has refugee or protected person
status in New Zealand, OR
is in the process of having an
application for refugee or protection
status determined by Immigration NZ, OR
is in the process of having an
appeal against refusal of refugee or
protection status determined by the
Immigration and Protection Tribunal OR
is a victim or suspected victim of
a people trafficking offence.
NZ Aid programme student A NZ Aid
Programme student, studying in NZ,
receiving Official Development Assistance
funding AND:
‐ their partner OR
‐ their dependant child, aged 17 years or
younger.
Commonwealth Scholarship Holder A
student studying in New Zealand and
funded by a New Zealand university under
the Commonwealth Scholarship and
Fellowship Plan is eligible for publicly
funded services.
NB: Children of Commonwealth
Scholarship holders under this scheme are
NOT ELIGIBLE for publicly funded health
services unless they meet the eligibility
criteria in their own right.]
Refugee travel document issued
under the Passport Act 1992 OR
Certificate of Identity (COI)
AND
Proof of refugee status/application
such as a recent letter from
Immigration NZ confirming that the
person:
has been recognised as a
refugee OR
has a current application for
refugee status OR
A recent letter from the Immigration
and Protection Tribunal confirming
the person is appealing against a
refusal of refugee status.
If the CoI states the person has
residency status, the INZ letters are
not necessary.
OR
A letter from the Police stating the
person is a victim or suspected victim
of people trafficking.
Passport with a current NZ student
visa
AND
Documents that indicate the person
is a NZ Aid Programme student, or
the partner or child of one.
For partners and dependants:
evidence of Official Development
Assistance funding on the basis of
relationship.
Passport with a student visa
AND
Documents that confirm the person
is currently studying under the
Commonwealth Scholarship and
Fellowship Plan.
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Category
Children
Foreign Language
Teaching
Assistantship
Scheme
Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and
Disability Services
A child under 18 who does not meet one
of the above criteria, but whose parent,
legal guardian, person applying to be their
guardian or adoptive parent is eligible as
a:
a) New Zealand citizen
b) New Zealand residence class visa holder
c) an eligible Australian citizen/Australian
permanent resident (as above – if staying
two years)
d) an eligible work visa holder
e) an eligible interim visa holder
f) a refugee or protected person or
victim/suspected victim of people
trafficking (as above)
g) a NZ Aid programme student.
A participant in the Ministry of Education
Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship
Scheme is eligible for publicly funded
health and disability services while
participating in this scheme.
Partners and children of foreign language
teaching assistants are NOT ELIGIBLE for
publicly funded health services unless
they meet one of the other criteria.
Proof of Eligibility
Evidence that the child is in the care
and control of an eligible adult, who
is their legal guardian, parent or in
the process of adopting the child or
becoming their legal guardian. (Birth
certificate, adoption papers,
guardianship papers or, for a child
being adopted: CYF social worker
confirmation or NZ Family Court
confirmation). See relevant section
for proof of adult’s eligibility.
Passport with a current work visa
AND
‘To whom it may concern’ letter
signed by International Languages
Aotearoa NZ or Uniservices stating
that the person is currently a teacher
on this scheme.
NB: Visitor and student permit holders who had been eligible since October 2003 are no longer eligible under the
2011 Eligibility Direction. They are no longer entitled to be enrolled unless they have become eligible under
another criterion.
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Eligible for a limited range of publicly funded health and disability services.
The following table outlines people who have limited eligibility for specific services. Check first if they meet any
of the criteria in table 1 that would make them eligible to be considered for any publicly funded health and
disability service.
Category
Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and Disability
Services
Under a Reciprocal Health Agreement a UK citizen
temporarily in New Zealand is eligible for treatment
(medical, hospital and related) on the same basis as
a New Zealand citizen if he/she:
- is ordinarily resident in the UK
- is on a temporary stay in NZ, and
- requires medical treatment which in the opinion
of a medical practitioner needs prompt attention
for a condition that arose after arrival into New
Zealand, OR became, or without treatment
would have become acutely exacerbated after
arrival.
UK passport AND
Proof that they usually reside
in the UK (e.g. return ticket to
the UK) AND
Medical practitioner opinion
that treatment is required as
per conditions.
Note: Check the person is not
eligible for the full range of
services under other criteria
(e.g. eligible work visa holder,
eligible permanent resident).
Australian residents
Under a reciprocal health agreement, an Australian
citizen, Australian permanent resident or other
Australian resident is eligible for:
- immediately necessary hospital services,
maternity services and pharmaceuticals, as
determined by the provider of medical
treatment.
Australian passport OR
Other passport with
Australian permanent
resident visa/return resident
visa OR
Australian Medicare card OR
proof of residing in Australia.
Pregnant Women
An otherwise ineligible pregnant partner of an
eligible person is eligible for maternity‐related
services, on the basis that the child is likely to be
born eligible. Should the partnership end during the
pregnancy, but the child be born a New Zealand
citizen, the maternity‐related services continue to be
funded.
Proof of partnership to
eligible person (eg. marriage
or civil union certificate, or a
declaration with a de facto
partner) AND
Proof of the partner’s
eligibility (refer to relevant
criteria). OR
Evidence that the child is
granted New Zealand
citizenship by birth (ie. A NZ
birth certificate).
UK Citizen
A Partner is:
- where the parties are legally married or in a civil
union, the spouse or civil union partner,
OR
- a de facto partner within the meaning of that
term in section 29 of the Interpretation Act
1999.
HIV infected
pregnant women
NB. This does not include partners of
Commonwealth and Fellowship Plan students or
Foreign Language Teaching Assistants.
Any pregnant woman infected with HIV has free
access to the following hospital services:
- blood tests to determine HIV viral load in the
pregnant woman
- a hospital‐based lead maternity carer
- a funded course of antiretroviral drug(s), noting
that there is no entitlement to ongoing
antiretroviral treatment for the mother
- information around safe alternatives to
breastfeeding
Proof of Eligibility
Proof of being pregnant and
infected with the HIV virus.
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-
Infectious diseases
a caesarean section and post caesarean section
hospitalisation
postnatal hospital visits for the child to
determine the HIV status of the child.
People who have or who are suspected of having an
infectious disease or a quarantinable disease are
eligible for funded services relating to:
-
Refer any enquiries to the
local Medical Officer of
Health.
the surveillance
the diagnosis
the treatment
follow‐up services and
contract tracing services
of the person’s infectious or quarantinable disease
to the extent appropriate to manage the public
health risk.
Other compulsory
public health
services
Services received under any of:
-
the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and
Treatment) Act 1992
the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966
the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired
Persons) Act 2003
the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and
Rehabilitation) Act 2003.
Refer any enquiries to the
area District Inspector or the
Ministry of Health.
are funded regardless of a person’s citizenship or
immigration status.
ACC
Everyone in New Zealand may be eligible for ACC
services, visitors and residents alike.
Claim accepted by ACC.
WellChild/Tamariki
Ora Services
All children are eligible for WellChild/Tamariki Ora
services.
Not required.
Immunisations
All children are eligible for publicly funded
immunisations, regardless of their citizenship or
immigration status.
Not required.
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Prisoners
Prisoners are eligible for publicly funded health and
disability services that are not provided within prison
facilities, regardless of their immigration status.
Court documents indicating
the person is on remand or
awaiting sentencing.
Diplomats
Foreign diplomats and their family members are
NOT ELIGIBLE for publicly funded health and
disability services except for ACC. They will have
health insurance.
Claim accepted by ACC.
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